Nigerian Air Force destroys illegal oil barges in Rivers

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Sunday said it has destroyed another set of illegal oil barges in River state.

Two of the latest barges filled with stolen oil were set ablaze by NAF helicopters on armed patrol around Okoromabie and South East of Port Harcourt refinery.

The third barge, surrounded by canoes carrying drums, was sited at Onne. While individuals around the barge and canoes fled when fired at, the barge and drums did not explode, indicating the possibility of being empty, NAF spokesman Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa said in a statement.

The destruction came as a training on collateral damage organised by the  British Military Assistance Training (BMATT) aimed at improving the capabilities of Nigerian Armed Forces to minimise collateral damage during operations begins today in Abuja.

A statement signed by Colonel Kingsley Umoh stated that after the opening ceremony of the event, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), will launch the Workshop/Dialogue on Strengthening Civilian Protection Policy and Practice at the International Conference Centre Abuja.

While the director transformation and the director defence information will jointly hold a Press Conference on sensitization campaign on Armed Forces version of the FG “Change Begins With Me” for members of the Armed Forces with the theme, ‘The Armed Forces of Nigeria Yesterday, Today and the Future’, at the new DHQ Conference Room.